Tag: Avengers

Cyclops Secret Weapon for AVX?

The Sentry #5 courtesy Marvel.com

  This is the final year of Brian Michael Bendis on The Avengers, which includes the upcoming Avengers Versus X-Men fight fueled by the return of the Phoenix Force.

  The Sentry/The Void could be a key factor in all three of these Marvel events.

Warning: There are potential spoilers of previous Marvel events you may not have read.

  Robert Reynolds is one of Marvel’s most powerful and tragic characters. Bendis made the The Sentry (Robert Reynolds) and his evil alter ego The Void a central character of his Avengers run until Bob was struck down by Thor in the finale of Siege. At Bob’s memorial service his computer companion CLOC said he was preparing for The Sentry’s eventual return. A section of The Void was held in Emma Frost’s mind until Cyclops locked it away in a sealed part of his mind.

New Avengers #8 courtesy Marvel.com

  Will Bendis bring The Sentry back as part of his final Avengers arc? Can Cyclops use The Void (should he even tap into that evil force?) against the Avengers in AVX? Is The Sentry/The Void possibly the only power that could counter the Phoenix Force? What if the entity bonded with a resurrected Robert Reynolds?

  You can read more about The Sentry and The Void at his Marvel.com bio.

AVX: Wolverine: Alone

Wolverine and the X-Men #9 courtesy Marvel.com

  Wolverine Alone.

  Logan is an X-Man, an Avenger, Headmaster of a new mutant school. Which side will he choose in AVX? Will his friends and students at the Jean Grey School follow the headmaster’s lead?

  Comics Alliance scored this exclusive first look at the cover for Wolverine and the X-Men #9 by Chris Bachalo.

  Depending on which side Logan chooses, it could cause a rift at the School given Rachel’s connections to the Phoenix and her friendship with Kitty Pryde.

AVX Doctor Strange Makes Magik Vanish!

X-Infernus courtesy Marvel.com

  The Avengers and X-Men go to war in April over the return of the Phoenix Force. Marvel has revealed stunning AVX teaser images of potential fights. We’ve seen matchups based on strength, fighting ability, and mutant powers but what about magic?

  I know it may seem unfair to have an older man fight a young woman but since we’ve already seen the Emma Frost versus Hulk teaser, I’m going there. I want Doctor Strange to make Magik vanish…for good!

  I envision a scene inspired by Uncanny X-Men #136 in which Professor Xavier psionically threw down with Dark Phoenix. The psi battle lasted a few panels but the way John Byrne illustrated Chris Claremont’s vision for the showdown was epic.

Magik courtesy Marvel.com

  The Magik I loved from the early New Mutants and the reborn little snowflake who died from the Legacy Virus is long gone.  Magik (after so many reboots) is a member of the Extinction Team in Uncanny X-Men and serves as the teleporter. Given her own dark nature and demonic connections it’s only a matter of time before Illyana will become the Darkchilde again.

  Illyana is nearly as dangerous as the host of the Phoenix force. If you’re going to eliminate the threat of the Phoenix, you should excise the evil potential inside Magik.

Defenders #1 courtesy Marvel.com

  Doctor Strange lost his mojo and is guilt ridden from events in New Avengers but he’s getting it back in the new Defenders book. Many of Marvel’s cosmic entities consider Strange to be on their level in terms of his power.

  Doctor Strange versus Magik would be a mystic battle for the ages but maybe their combined power could tame the Phoenix?

Here’s the Magik Marvel bio if you’d like to learn more. To learn more about Dr. Strange here’s his Marvel bio.

GLAAD Outstanding Comic Book Nominees

 

Life With Archie #16 courtesy Archie Comics

 GLAAD, The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, reveals the nominees for Outstanding Comic Book for 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards:

Avengers: The Children’s Crusade, by Allan Heinberg (Marvel)
Batwoman, by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman (DC Comics)
Secret Six, by Gail Simone (DC Comics)
Veronica Presents: Kevin Keller, by Dan Parent (Archie Comics)
X-Factor, by Peter David (Marvel Comics)

  All of these nominated books feature a gay or lesbian lead character or a gay character in the ensemble.

X-Factor's Shatterstar and Rictor courtesy Marvel.com

  X-Factor won last year. Rictor and Shatterstar are boyfriends and co-workers at X-Factor Investigations. Rictor is a Mexican mutant who lost his powers but recently was repowered in Avengers: The Children’s Crusade. Shatterstar is a mutant warrior from another dimension – and wants an open relationship. Rictor wants them to stay monogamous.

 

Batwoman #1 from DC Comics

  Batwoman is Kate Kane, lipstick lesbian socialite of Gotham City and caped crusader by night. The fan favorite crime fighter is the star of her own DC Comics New 52 series.

  Kevin Keller is the front-runner. Archie Comics showcased an openly gay character in an all-ages book. Kevin is serving openly in the military with an African-American boyfriend. The partners were featured on gay wedding ceremony cover. Archie Comics didn’t just publish the story but gave Kevin’s story a big marketing push and it made huge mainstream headlines.

   Thanks to Comics Alliance for the story.

  For my pick to win and possible nominees for 2012 scroll down or click here for part two.

Secret Avengers Face Doomborgs!

Doombot courtesy Marvel.com

  Rick Remender is pulling from Marvel history to create new races for the start of his Secret Avengers run. The Descendants are evolved versions of Marvel’s most famous androids and robots. The writer is revealing the new ‘races’ created by a mysterious enemy in The Father Files on Marvel.com.

 Remender takes Doctor Doom’s infamous Doombots to a new level of evil. Here are his notes and commentary on the Doomborgs.

“The Descendants that are derived from previous species, such as the Doomborgs being descendants of the Doombots, are all failed in someway. They’re all incomplete in some fashion. All of the Descendants that are built off of previously existing robots in the Marvel Universe are somewhat flawed. We will reveal what those flaws are as they progress. There are perfect Descendants but they were introduced to the general population and haven’t been heard from or seen since. They’re among us procreating. Whereas I guess these would be the red-headed stepchildren of those more perfect descendants.”

Doombots courtesy Marvel.com

 

  Remender definitely knows how to reinvent exciting characters and worlds from history. Just read the Uncanny X-Force Dark Angel Saga to see what he did in the Age of Apocalypse. Secret Avengers #22 is Remender’s first issue with Hawkeye as team leader. For more of Remender’s notes and quotes here’s the Marvel.com link.

 

AVX: Colossus Versus Red Hulk!

 

Uncanny X-Men #11 AvX tie-in courtesy Marvel.com

  A Colossal Juggernaut versus the Red Hulk! Marvel revealed the latest Avengers Versus X-Men mighty matchup to io9! Greg Land created this head butting impact cover to Uncanny X-Men #11 – an AvX tie-in.

  Colossus (fueled by the Cyttorak) versus Red Hulk in what Marvel is calling “Cyclops leads his X-Men in to their toughest battle yet.”

  I’m cheering for Colossus on this one!

AVX: Secret Avengers Suicide Space Mission!

 

Secret Avengers #26 cover by Alan Davis on MTV Geek courtesy Marvel.com

  Maybe some Avengers won’t be alive for the big fight against the X-Men? Marvel gave MTV Geek this spectacular cover image and a foreboding press release for Secret Avengers #26.

“Thor leads a secret team of Avengers on a suicide mission to stop the Phoenix by any means necessary.”

Rick Remender and Renato Guedes provide story and art. This cover is by the legendary Alan Davis. Majestic comes to mind when I think of his art!

So far Secret Avengers #26, New Avengers #24, New Avengers #26 (Iron Fist as the Phoenix)have been the only tie-in AVX books revealed so far…but this is a crossover event so stay tuned!

Captain America and Cyclops in AVX Variant

Avengers Versus X-Men #1 variant courtesy Marvel.com

  Fists are flying in the latest AVX reveal from Marvel. Ryan Stegman created this Avengers Versus X-Men #1 variant showing the two team leaders in battle.

  This is the press release with the image – which includes a big clue*:

  “This April, the biggest names in the industry pit the largest super hero franchises against one another for the biggest war in comics history in Avengers Vs. X-Men! To celebrate this blockbuster event, Marvel has your first look at the Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 Stegman Variant by red-hot artist Ryan Stegman! The Phoenix Force is headed towards Earth and Captain America is determined to prevent the destruction of the whole world by stopping it. But when word gets to the X-Men that the Phoenix is returning, Cyclops will do anything he can to save it…including going up against Earth’s Mightiest! But who is right? Will mutantkind be saved or will the world be annihilated? Don’t miss out on all the action in Avengers Vs. X-Men #1 in comic shops worldwide and on the Marvel Comics app this April!”

AvX #1 cover by Jim Cheung courtesy Marvel.com

   When AVX was unveiled we learned that “a shocking decision related to the return of the Phoenix Force” is what triggers the conflict.

  *I could be wrong but isn’t this the first time we’ve been told that Captain America is determined to stop it and Cyclops will do anything to save it? Scott has demonstrated he’s willing to make sacrifices and take drastic steps to protect his fellow mutants so could this mean the Phoenix is targetting Hope?